Use of ice in connection with air conditioning



L. D. HARNETT USE OF ICE IN CONNECTION WITH AIR CONDITIONING Filed Feb. 29, 19:52 s Sheets-Sheet 1 HHHHNQ. 0mm a 0 M a W ..\WQM. QN W W hm an I 7 I W mm 0m 0m m N Q v u H mm "r. Mm I km MT 4 N. ,5 x X. WW \N |f ta i v Q v v M x. M k k.

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Dec. 4, 1934. L. D. HARNETT USE OF ICE IN CONNECTION WITH AIR CONDITIONING Filed Feb. 29, 1952 3 SheeisSheet 2 I INVENTOR. LEW/J p. HAW/V5777 J QWQQTJMQQ A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 4, 1934.

L. D] HARNETT USE OF ICE IN CONNECTION WITH AIR CONDITIONING s Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 29, 1932 I NVENTORL LEW/5 D. f/flE/VETT.

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Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES USE OF ICE IN CONNECTION WITH AIR CONDITIONING Lewis D. Harriett, Columbus, Ohio Application February 29, 1932, Serial No. 595,831

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in air conditioning apparatus, and has for its object to provide means for conditioning air as it passes through an air passageway by causing a recirculation of water in sprayed condition across the passageway.

It is an object of this invention to provide. in connection with means for recirculating water in sprays across an air passageway, means to replenish this water from a source of colder water so that the water sprayed for air conditioning purposes is maintained at a minimum temperature.

It is also an object of this invention to provide. in connection with air conditioning means, means to cause a recirculation ofwater through an air passageway, and means operated by the temperature condition of the recirculated water to cut on" the recirculated water and cause to be sprayed into the air passageway cold water from another source.

vIt is a further object of ti s invention to provide. in connection with an air passageway. means to cause a recirculation of certain water through said passageway for conditioning purposes. and when this water has reached a certain temperature to cause water from a second source to be sprayed into the air passageway and part of it to be transmitted back to the source of said second water supply for replenishing the supply and diminishing the temperature thereof by passing over blocks of ice provided in connection with the second source of water supply.

These and other advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a fragmentary section of part of a building and a section of an air conditioning casing. with the air conditioning apparatus associated therewith, shown in elevation.

Figure 2 shows a fragmentary part of a building, a transverse section of an air conditioning casing, and a top plan view of the air conditioning apparatus associated therewith.

Figure 3 shows a vertical section of one end of a room. such as a theater, with the present air conditioning means applied thereto.

Figure 4 shows a modified form of air conditioning means adapted to be used in connection with homes.

Figure '5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 4. r

The present air conditioning apparatus is adapted to be used in connection with theaters, office buildings and private homes. The forms shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 are especially adapted for use in connection with theaters and large halls. In Figures 1, 2 and 8 the numeral 1 is used to designate parts of abuilding in which the apparatus is-installed. The numeral 2 is used to designate the floor of a basement of such a building.

In some suitable part of the basement there is located an ice box 3. which is in the form of a tank, open at the top and provided with transverse supports 4 for ice somewhat above the bottom of the tank so as to provide a space 5 and designated as a water tank for holding the drippings from the ice and providing cold water for air conditioning purposes.

Around the tank is insulating material 6. Somewhat remote from that part of the building in which the ice box is located there is a casing '7, which has an opening 8 at one end, while the other end is closed by means of a rear wall 9. This casing is closed at all sides except for the entrance inlet 8. through which air passes into the casing.

Located adjacent the rear wall is a partition 10, which extends upwardly from the floor 2 to provide, in cooperation with the sides and top of the casing, an inlet to a blower 12. The casing has adjacent the blower an outlet pipe or flue 11, through which the conditioned air passes for distribution to ahall or rooms. The blower is operated by a motor 13 located on the floor without the casing by means of a belt 14, connecting a pulley on the motor shaft to a pulley on the blower shaft.

Without the casing and adjacent thereto is a motor 15. which has connected to its shaft a pump 16 for forcing water into the casing for spraying purposes. This pump has an inlet 1'7 in the form of a suction line pipe. This pipe has two branches. one branch 18 leading from a tank 19, located in the bottom of the casing '7, beneath spray nozzles. The other branch is indicated by the numeral 20 and extends from the tank 5 at the bottom of the ice box.

Where the pipes or branches l8 and 20 unite with the suction line pipe 17 there is provided a three-way valve construction 21 for controlling the admission of water from the tanks into the suction line pipe. This valve normally is in position to shut off the branch 20 from the inlet line 17 so that when the pump is operating, under normal conditions, water is taken from the tank 19. through the branch 18, inlet 17, through the pump and out through a discharge pipe 22 which extends from the pump in a horizontal direction toward the tank 19.

This pipe has attached thereto a horizontal branch 23, and extending upwardly from this horizontal branch are vertical branches 23a, as shown in Figure 1. There are two of these branches on each end of each of which is a horizontally disposed spray pipe 24 for spraying water into the casing forming the air passageway. In the branch 23 is a valve 25, which is normally closed. Around this valve is a by-pass 26. The purpose of this by-pass is to provide water for spraying the ice in the ice box when the valve 25 is closed. On the free end of the branch 23 are spray nozzles 27 located above the ice box for spraying water on top of the ice for replenishing the amount of water in the tank beneath the ice box.

In the by-pass 26 is a valve 28 operated by means of a float 29 located in the tank 5, through a link 30 and an arm 31, to which the link is attached for operating the valve 28. This valve is normally closed but when the water becomes excessively low in the tank the valve is open so that the amount of water in the tank 5 may be replenished through the line 23 from the pump.

This pump takes water either from the tank 5 or from the tank 19, depending upon the position of the three-way valve. If the three-way valve is in position for the pump to take water from the tank 5 the valve 25 is open, so that water is being supplied through the spray nozzles 27 over the blocks of ice for cooling the water and replenishing the amount of water in the tank 5. In the event that the amount of water thus supplied is not equal to that withdrawn the float 29 will cause the valve 28 to open, thereby adding water to the amount of water in the tank 5. The blocks of ice used for cooling purposes in the ice box are indicated by the numeral 32.

For the purposes of providing pressure for operating the valves 21 and 25 there is provided an air compressor 33 connected by a pipe 35 to an air storage tank 34. This air storage tank has an outlet pipe 36 leading to a chamber 37a, which has therein a thermostatically operated valve. This valve normally closes a passageway from the pipe 36 to a pipe 37 extending from the chamber 37a to a chamber 38.

The valve in the chamber 37a is normally closed, but is opened thermostatically by the temperature condition in the suction inlet pipe 17. Under normal conditions the three-way valve is so positioned that a passageway is opened from the tank 19, through the branch 18 and the suction inlet 17 to the pump. At the same time the valve 25 is closed.

When the pump is operating under these conditions water is taken from the tank 19 and sprayed across the passageway, and collects in the tank 19 for recirculating purposes. This water is caused to recirculate until its temperature reaches a certain point, at which time a thermostatic means operates a valve in the chamber 37a so that connection is formed between the pipes 36 and 37, whereupon air pressure is caused to be introduced into the chambers 38 and 40.

The air pressure in the chamber 38 causes the valve 25 to move so that water may pass from the pipe 23 to and through thenozzles 27. The pressure in the pressure chamber 40 causes the threeway valve to operate so that the connection between the suction line 17 and the branch 18 is cut off, and a connection formed between the suction line 17 and the branch 20, so that a further operation of the pump will withdraw water from the tank 5 and force it through the outlet 22, through the spray pipes 24, across the air passage and through the valve 25 and the spray nozzles 27 for spraying the blocks of ice and replenish the amount of cold water in the tank 5. Extending from the air pipe 37 is a branch 39, which supplies air pressure to the pressure chamber 40 for operating the three-way valve.

In Figure 3 applicant's air conditioning apparatus is shown in use in connection with a theater. This apparatus is located at any suitable place in the theater. In this figure it is shown located in the front of the theater beneath the main floor. The compartment or room of the theater in which the air conditioning apparatus is located is indicated by the numeral 41.

The air outlet flue or pipe 11 extends vertically upwardly to a point adjacent the ceiling of the theater, where it extends in a horizontal direction. In the bottom of the horizontal part of this flue outlets 42 are provided, as shown in this figure. The cold air being forced through the pipe or flue 11, being heavier than warmer air, sinks toward the floor of the room. The floor of the room is provided with openings through which air may pass from the room into the compartment or basement beneath the floor. By this means there is a continuous circulation of air, air supplied to the room at one point exiting from the room at another point, and conditioned and repassed back into the room.

In Figures 4 and 5 there is shown an adaptation of this air conditioning apparatus for use in connection with private homes and small buildings. In Figure 4 there is shown an ice box 43. supported on the floor 44 of a basement. In the lower part of the ice box is a tank 45, which receives and holds the drippings from the ice blocks supported above the tank in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 1. From the upper part of this tank extends a drain pipe 46, which has an outlet into a sewer or some other place for water disposal.

The numeral 47 is used to designate the floor of a living room, while the numeral 48 is used to designate the floor of a bed-room. Each of these rooms has an air conditioning means consisting of a casing 49, which has an air inlet 50 adjacent the floor and a suitable air outlet 51. In the present instance this air outlet is located on top of the casing 49.

In the lower part of the casing adjacent the inlet is a blower 52 operated by means of a motor 53. Between the blower and the outlet. is located a radiator 54. There may be one or more of these radiators. Extending from the bottom of the tank 45 is a supply pipe 55, the upper end of which is connected to the radiator of the bedroom. Extending from this pipe is a branch 57 connected to the radiator in the living room. This branch 57 may be cut off by means of a valve 58 so that the air conditioning means in the living room will not operate.

There is provided in the upper end of the supply pipe adjacent the radiator attached to the end thereof, a valve 59, by means of which the air conditioning means in the bed-room may be cut oil. The water is supplied from the tank 45, through the supply pipe by means of a pump 56, located in the pipe adjacent the tank.

Each radiator is provided with a return pipe 60, which extends into the top of the tank 45 for returning the water back to the tank for future use and for recirculating purposes. In order that 63 located on one side of the return pipe, as shown in Figure 4.

This thermostatic attachment is filled with ethyl alcohol, or some other suitable liquid, so

that when the temperature of the returning water becomes too great a sylphon, located in a casing 64, will expand and open the valve 62 for the admission of water through the spray line 61 so that the returning water is partly cooled by being by-passed over the cakes of ice in the ice box. The temperature at which this valve will operate may be controlled by means of a screw 65, extending into the casing 64 for regulating the pressure on the sylphon therein.

The temperature of the rooms can be independently regulated. By means of the valves 58 and 59 either room may be cut off or both rooms may be open so that the temperature of each room is conditioned.

I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be embraced within my claims and the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

1. In an air conditioning apparatus in combination with a spray chamber, a water tank, means to take water from the tank and deliver it in sprays into the chamber, a second tank, and means operated by the temperature of the water taken from the first tank to cause water to be taken from the second tank and part thereof sprayed into the chamber and the rest returned to the second tank.

2. In an air conditioning apparatus, in combination with a spray chamber, a tank connected to the chamber to receive water sprayed in the chamber, a second tank for water, and means connected to the tanks adapted to deliver water to the spray-chamber from the first-named tank as long as the water therein is below a certain temperature andadapted to take water from the second tank and spray a partthereof into the spray chamber and return the rest to the second tank when the water in the first-named tank is above a certain temperature.

3. In an air conditioning apparatus, in combination with a spray chamber, a tank connected to the chamber to receive water sprayed in the chamber, a second tank for water, means connected to the tanks adapted to deliver water to the spray chamber from the first-named tank as long as the water therein is below a certain temperature and adapted to take water from the second tank and deliver a part thereof to the spray chamber and the rest back to thesecond tank when the water in the first-named tank is above a certain temperature, and means to lower the temperature of the water returned to the second tank.

4. In an air conditioning apparatus, in combination with a spray chamber, a tank connected to the chamber to receive water sprayed in the chamber, a second tank for water, means con-. nected to the tanks adapted to deliver water to the spray chamber from the first-named tank as long as the water therein is below a certain temperature and adapted to deliver water from the second tank to the spray chamber when the water in the first-named tank is above a certain temperature, means to supplycool water to the second tank, said last-named'means including an ice box above the second tank, and means to re turn part of the-water delivered from the second tank back to the second tank over the ice box.

5. In an air conditioning apparatus, in combination with a spray chamber, a tank connected to the chamber to receive water sprayed in the chamber, a second tank for water, means connected to the tanks adapted to deliver water to the spray chamber from the first-named tank as long as the water therein is below a certain temperature and adapted to deliver water from the second tank to the spray chamber when the water in the first-named tank is above a certain temperature, means to supply cool water to the second tank, said last-named means including an ice box above the second tank, and means to spray part of the water taken from the second tank over the ice in the ice box when water is taken from the second tank.

6. In an air conditioning apparatus, in combination with an air passageway having a water tank thereunder, an ice box having a tank beneath it, spray means for the ice box, spray means for the air passageway, a pump having its inlet connected to the tanks and its outlet connected to both spray means, and means adapted during the operation of the pump to cause the water to be taken from the tank under the air passageway and be sprayed into the passageway and adapted tocause the water to be taken from the tank under the icebox and be sprayed into the passageway and into the ice box.

7. In an air conditioning apparatus, in combination with an air passageway having a water tank thereunder, an ice box having a tank beneath it, spray means for the ice box, spray means for the air passageway, a pump having its inlet connected to the tanks and its outlet connected to both spray means, and thermostatically controlled means adapted during the operation of the pump to cause the water to be taken from the tank under the air passageway and be sprayed into the passageway and adapted to cause the water to be taken from the tank under the ice box and be sprayed into the passageway and into the ice box.

8. In an air conditioning apparatus, in combination with a building having a plurality of rooms therein, a casing in each room, said casing having therein a blower and a radiator, an ice box having in its bottom a tank and means above the tank to support ice, a pump having its inlet connected to the tank, a pipe connected at one end to the pump outlet and at its other end and intermediate its ends to one end of each radiator, a return pipe connected at one end to the tank and connected at its other end and intermediate its ends to the other ends of the radiators, a spray pipe extending from the return pipe to the ice box, a valveto control the flow of water from the return pipe to the spray pipe, and thermostatic means on the return pipe to operate the valve.

9. In an air conditioning apparatus, a pair of tanks, a pump having an outlet pipe connected to both tanks and an inlet pipe connected to both tanks, a valve in the inlet pipe adapted to selectively cut off one or the other of said tanks from the pump, a valve in the outlet pipe adapted to close the outlet pipe to one tank, and a common means to operate. both valves simultaneously to cause a circulation of water to and from one tank through the pump and to the other tank.

10. In an air conditioning apparatus, a pair of tanks, a pump having an outlet pipe connected to both tanks and an inlet pipe connected to both tanks, a valve in the inlet pipe adapted to selec- 5 tively cut off one or the other of said tanks from I IO the pump, a valve in the outlet pipe adapted to close the outlet pipe to one tank, a common means LEWIS D. HARNETT. 

